The Challenges of Making *Satrangi: Badle Ka Khel* and the World of Launda Naach

When a story really tries to slip away from what everyone expects, getting it off the ground becomes something else entirely. That’s what director Jai Basantu Singh wrestled with while making Satrangi: Badle Ka Khel . It’s a crime drama built right in the messy world of Launda Naach performers and caste conflict.

The series is streaming now on ZEE5, but it dives into a cultural space that just doesn't usually get much room in mainstream OTT stuff. And Jai admitted the biggest hurdle wasn't even telling the story itself. It was getting people to aGree to look at it in the first place.

He talked about the reaction to the show and how it got there, speaking to Hindustan Times. He said the subject matter alone made folks hesitant before anyone even started talking about the script. “This world of Launda Naach ,” he put it, “it’s risky. Not everyone likes it. People might spot flaws in the writing because it’s so specific—UP-Bihar stuff. There’s no guarantee it’ll become something massive. Pan-India appeal? Attracting audiences everywhere? Maybe not.”

Jai’s connection to this world isn't new, though. It goes back years before it became a series. Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, specifically Banaras, he saw the whole scene unfold. “We’ve seen Launda Naach bits and pieces on screen,” he noted. “But this story? It’s based on the actual lives of those artistes. When the idea hit me, I just said yes. Nobody had made a film or web series about this stuff yet.”

What he saw behind the entertainment was much tougher than what you see on stage. His observations over time built up the real emotional core of the whole project.

“I’m from UP, Banaras,” he continued. “I watched their lives, the dances, everything behind the curtain since I was a kid. We know that Launda Naach doesn't carry much weight now. Most people just see it as entertainment. But the life behind that dance? It’s brutally hard. I met so many people doing this stuff. Their lives are really tough. They aren't necessarily enjoying it.”

He added that a lot of performers end up in these traditions because circumstances push them there, not because they choose to. “Even today, Launda Naach exists,” he said. “But it’s not what it used to be. The people doing it go through intense emotional phases. Family situations often aren't good. I saw that stuff up close. Felt like this was an opportunity to tell a story that mattered.”

It wasn't even his first shot at bringing this world to screen, either. He had actually developed a feature film on the same subject earlier, but it never made it past development.

“Back in 2018-19, I wrote a film about Launda Naach ,” he recalled. “It was supposed to be a love story. But it just couldn’t get made.”

There were plenty of attempts after that. He tried approaching producers and studios multiple times. Nothing stuck.

“I reached out to several people,” he explained. “But nothing materialized. People just weren't interested in taking the risk when you know your lead is doing Launda Naach . Maybe that was it. I wanted to make that movie, but it just stalled.”

That unused research, though? It didn’t vanish. It became the bedrock for Satrangi: Badle Ka Khel .

But if selling the subject itself was hard, casting turned out to be an even bigger wall. According to Jai, actors started backing out before they even heard the full story.

“Casting this web series was tough because the world isn't accepting of it,” he said. “For any hero to step into a woman’s costume, wear that ghaghra choli and dance—a lot of people just couldn't picture themselves doing it.”

Many actors pulled out immediately after seeing just the synopsis.

“A lot of them said no before they even heard the script,” he mentioned. “We sent over the overview, talked to casting directors. Still, some dropped out without seeing the story first.”

Then came Anshumaan Pushkar. He was the one who finally stuck.

“Luckily, we found him. Anshumaan Pushkar was willing to take on the challenge. And he did a beautiful job,” Jai said. It was really difficult work. People just couldn't imagine anyone putting on that look, applying makeup, dancing like that.

The style of performance itself added another layer of complication for those actors who weren’t familiar with the tradition at all.

“The dance itself is unique,” he noted. “It mirrors how women perform in item songs. It’s not something everyone knows how to do. So finding the right fit was a real headache.”

He stressed that he needed someone who understood this world, someone from UP or Bihar maybe. Someone with some familiarity. Anshumaan had that background. And thankfully, he managed to bring in someone from that cultural space who could actually deliver something great.